Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions
Abstract In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing behavior turned out to be key to mitigating the virus spread. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand how we can successfully alter our behavior and promote physical distancing. We present a framework to systematically assess the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98964-z |
| _version_ | 1818845249476231168 |
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| author | Tessa F. Blanken Charlotte C. Tanis Floor H. Nauta Fabian Dablander Bonne J. H. Zijlstra Rick R. M. Bouten Quinten H. Oostvogel Meier J. Boersma Maya V. van der Steenhoven Frenk van Harreveld Sanne de Wit Denny Borsboom |
| author_facet | Tessa F. Blanken Charlotte C. Tanis Floor H. Nauta Fabian Dablander Bonne J. H. Zijlstra Rick R. M. Bouten Quinten H. Oostvogel Meier J. Boersma Maya V. van der Steenhoven Frenk van Harreveld Sanne de Wit Denny Borsboom |
| author_sort | Tessa F. Blanken |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing behavior turned out to be key to mitigating the virus spread. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand how we can successfully alter our behavior and promote physical distancing. We present a framework to systematically assess the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to stimulate physical distancing. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of this framework in a large-scale natural experiment (N = 639) conducted during an art fair. In an experimental design, we varied interventions to evaluate the effect of face masks, walking directions, and immediate feedback on visitors’ contacts. We represent visitors as nodes, and their contacts as links in a contact network. Subsequently, we used network modelling to test for differences in these contact networks. We find no evidence that face masks influence physical distancing, while unidirectional walking directions and buzzer feedback do positively impact physical distancing. This study offers a feasible way to optimize physical distancing interventions through scientific research. As such, the presented framework provides society with the means to directly evaluate interventions, so that policy can be based on evidence rather than conjecture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:26:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7da0b603f2504a6ea09d984d583bb730 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:26:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7da0b603f2504a6ea09d984d583bb7302022-12-21T20:34:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-09-011111810.1038/s41598-021-98964-zPromoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventionsTessa F. Blanken0Charlotte C. Tanis1Floor H. Nauta2Fabian Dablander3Bonne J. H. Zijlstra4Rick R. M. Bouten5Quinten H. Oostvogel6Meier J. Boersma7Maya V. van der Steenhoven8Frenk van Harreveld9Sanne de Wit10Denny Borsboom11Department of Psychology, University of AmsterdamDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamResearch Institute of Child Development and Education, University of AmsterdamFocus Technologies B.V.Focus Technologies B.V.Smart Distance LabSmart Distance LabDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamDepartment of Psychology, University of AmsterdamAbstract In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing behavior turned out to be key to mitigating the virus spread. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand how we can successfully alter our behavior and promote physical distancing. We present a framework to systematically assess the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to stimulate physical distancing. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of this framework in a large-scale natural experiment (N = 639) conducted during an art fair. In an experimental design, we varied interventions to evaluate the effect of face masks, walking directions, and immediate feedback on visitors’ contacts. We represent visitors as nodes, and their contacts as links in a contact network. Subsequently, we used network modelling to test for differences in these contact networks. We find no evidence that face masks influence physical distancing, while unidirectional walking directions and buzzer feedback do positively impact physical distancing. This study offers a feasible way to optimize physical distancing interventions through scientific research. As such, the presented framework provides society with the means to directly evaluate interventions, so that policy can be based on evidence rather than conjecture.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98964-z |
| spellingShingle | Tessa F. Blanken Charlotte C. Tanis Floor H. Nauta Fabian Dablander Bonne J. H. Zijlstra Rick R. M. Bouten Quinten H. Oostvogel Meier J. Boersma Maya V. van der Steenhoven Frenk van Harreveld Sanne de Wit Denny Borsboom Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions Scientific Reports |
| title | Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| title_full | Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| title_fullStr | Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| title_short | Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| title_sort | promoting physical distancing during covid 19 a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98964-z |
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